System for transmitting data from an underground vehicle

ABSTRACT

There is described a system for sending, via a communication network, data originating from a monitoring of equipment in a network-inaccessible location. The system comprises a first interface device to be operated in a network-inaccessible location and comprising: sensors for monitoring a first equipment; a processor connected to the sensors for generating a data packet from the monitoring; and a local input/output (I/O) device for sending the data packet. The system further comprises a second interface device, to be displaced from the network-inaccessible location to a network-accessible location, comprising a local I/O device for receiving the data packet from the first interface device; and a network-connected I/O device to deliver the data packet via the communication network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patentapplication 62/188,843, filed at the United States Patent and TrademarkOffice on Jul. 6, 2015, the content of which is incorporated herein byreference. This patent application is a divisional application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/742,755 filed at the United States Patentand Trademark Office on Jan. 8, 2018, the content of which is alsoincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND (a) Field

The subject matter disclosed generally relates to systems fortransmitting data from network-inaccessible equipment. In a specificexample, it relates to systems for transmitting data from vehicles in amine.

(b) Related Prior Art

Various vehicles, notably trucks and other large or commercial vehicles,can have various sensors installed thereon for accumulating data aboutthe state of the vehicle. For example, speed, acceleration, braking,tire pressure, fuel consumption rate, oil level and other parameters canbe monitored constantly. This large flow of data can be stored in anembarked system and delivered via a network, either remote internetconnections (LTE, 3G, etc.) or local connections (such as WiFi). Such asystem is described in patent publication U.S. 2011/0251752 A1,incorporated herein by reference.

A notable difficulty encountered by such systems is the monitoring ofunderground vehicles such as mining vehicles and drilling moles. Apriori, there is no internet network (or any equivalent thereof) in themine. Moreover, many of the vehicles stay underground, or at least donot go out on a regular basis. If data transmission cannot take place,data can only be recorded, or eventually deleted locally (i.e., in thevehicle) and never used.

There have been some attempts to address this problem. For example, inBandyopadhyay et al. (“Wireless information and safety system formines”, J. Sci. & Ind. Research, Vol. 68, February 2009, pp. 107-117),there is described a system comprising a plurality of routers installedin the mine tunnels. However, if a link is broken between routers (ifone of the routers fails for any reason), the information originatingfrom the most remote places in the mine are never communicated and arelost. Redundant routers can be installed to circumvent the problem,increasing the cost of the overall network.

Routers can be installed directly on vehicles and people, as proposed inU.S. Pat. No. 8,816,850. However, the solution described therein usesZigBee and therefore is adapted for small data flows only. Moreover,reliability is suboptimal since information can be lost if a router isdamaged or loses power.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a system forsending, via a communication network, data originating from a monitoringof equipment in a network-inaccessible location. The system comprises afirst interface device to be operated in a network-inaccessible locationand comprising: sensors for monitoring a first equipment; a processorconnected to the sensors for generating a data packet from themonitoring; and a local input/output (I/O) device for sending the datapacket. The system further comprises a second interface device, to bedisplaced from the network-inaccessible location to a network-accessiblelocation, comprising: a local I/O device for receiving the data packetfrom the first interface device; and a network-connected I/O device todeliver the data packet via the communication network.

According to an embodiment, the network-connected I/O device is furtherto receive, via the communication network, a receipt signal indicatingthe data packet that was delivered.

According to an embodiment, the local I/O device of the second interfacedevice is further for sending the receipt signal for eventual receptionby the first interface device.

According to an embodiment, the second interface device furthercomprises sensors for monitoring a second equipment and a processorconnected to the sensors of the second interface device for generatinganother data packet from the monitoring.

According to an embodiment, the network-connected I/O device of thesecond interface device is further adapted to deliver the data packetsfrom both the first interface device and the second interface device andto receive the receipt signal indicating the data packets that weredelivered.

According to an embodiment, the first interface device and the secondinterface device are to be installed on first mining equipment andsecond mining equipment, respectively.

According to an embodiment, the sensors of the first interface deviceand of the second interface device have connectors for connection to acommunication bus of the first mining equipment and of the second miningequipment, respectively.

According to an embodiment, there is further provided a third interfacedevice to be operated in a network-inaccessible location and comprising:a local I/O device for receiving at least one the data packet from thefirst interface device or from the second interface device uponestablishing a local communication with the first interface device orthe second interface device, for storing the data packet, and forretransmitting the at least one data packet to the other one of thefirst interface device or the second interface device upon establishinga local communication therewith.

According to an embodiment, the third interface device furthercomprises: sensors for monitoring a third equipment; a processorconnected to the sensors for generating a data packet from themonitoring; and the local I/O device being further for sending the datapacket from the third interface device upon establishing a localcommunication with the first interface device or the second interfacedevice.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a systemfor sending, via a communication network, data originating from amonitoring of equipment in a network-inaccessible location, the systemcomprising: a first interface device for monitoring a first equipmentand generating a data packet from the monitoring; and a second interfacedevice for monitoring a second equipment and generating a data packetfrom the monitoring, wherein: the first interface device and the secondinterface device are adapted for mutual communication through which thefirst interface device and the second interface device synchronize thedata packets recorded thereon; at least one of the first interfacedevice and the second interface device is adapted: to be displaced to anetwork-accessible location; to deliver, via the communication network,the data packets recorded thereon; to receive, via the communicationnetwork, a receipt signal indicating the data packets that weredelivered; and the interface device which received the receipt signal isadapted to communicate the receipt signal to the other interface device.

According to an embodiment, there is further provided at least one otherinterface device adapted for mutual communication with both the firstinterface device and the second interface device for synchronizing thedata packets recorded thereon.

According to an embodiment, upon receiving the receipt signal from oneof the interface devices, any interface device synchronizes the datapackets recorded thereon with this one of the interface devices exceptthe data packets identified in the receipt signal.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method fortransmitting data originating from a network-inaccessible location to aprocessing center. The method comprises: monitoring equipment by a firstinterface device in a network-inaccessible location; generating anidentifiable data packet from the monitoring; providing a localcommunication between the first interface device and a second interfacedevice; sending the identifiable data packet from the first interfacedevice to the second interface device for recording thereon; displacingthe second interface device to a network-accessible location for sendingthe identifiable data packet to a processing center.

According to an embodiment, the second interface device has at leastanother identifiable data packet recorded thereon, further comprising,upon providing the local communication between the first interfacedevice and the second interface device, sending the other identifiabledata packet from the second interface device to the first interfacedevice for recording thereon, thereby synchronizing the identifiabledata packets recorded on the first interface device and the secondinterface device.

According to an embodiment, there is further provided, upon sending theidentifiable data packet to a processing center, receiving a receiptsignal of any identifiable data packet received by the processingcenter.

According to an embodiment, there is further provided, upon providingthe local communication between the first interface device and thesecond interface device, sending the receipt signal from the secondinterface device to the first interface device.

According to an embodiment, synchronizing the identifiable data packetscomprises excluding from the synchronizing the identifiable data packetswhich are identified in the receipt signal as received by at least oneof the first and the second interface devices.

According to an embodiment, providing a local communication between thefirst and second interface devices comprises: providing a localcommunication between the first interface device and a third interfacedevice; sending the identifiable data packet from the first interfacedevice to the third interface device; providing a local communicationbetween the third interface device and the second interface device; andsending the identifiable data packet from the third interface device tothe second interface device.

According to an embodiment, the third interface device comprises one ormore interface devices, wherein if the third interface device comprisestwo or more interface devices, a local communication is provided atleast temporarily between two of them.

According to an embodiment, upon providing the local communicationbetween the first interface device and the third interface device, thethird interface device sends any identifiable data packet recordedthereon to the first interface device; and wherein upon providing thelocal communication between the third interface device and the secondinterface device, the second interface device sends any identifiabledata packet recorded thereon to the third interface device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in combinationwith the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system installed on a plurality ofvehicles for transmitting data, according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 2A-2B are diagrams illustrating a telemetry interface deviceadapted for communication with a remote processing center, according toan embodiment;

FIGS. 3A-3F are diagrams illustrating a system installed on a pluralityof vehicles for transmitting data during various steps of thetransmitting process, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a system for transmitting dataoriginating from a network-inaccessible location, according to anembodiment.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like featuresare identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system for transmitting data from vehicles described above inreference to patent publication U.S. 2011/0251752 A1 requirestransmission of large amounts of data. There is thus a need for a systemcapable of transmitting a large flow of data from underground vehicles.There is further a need for transmitting such data with highreliability.

In embodiments there are disclosed a system 1000 and a method fortransmitting data from equipment in a network-inaccessible location(e.g., underground equipment) to the network (e.g., at the groundsurface).

In reference with FIG. 1, the system 1000 is to be used in anunderground location 10 or any other network-inaccessible location. Theunderground location 10 is a mine, tunnel, hole, cave, well or bore, orother network-inaccessible location. The underground location 10 islocated under or close to a surface location 15 which isnetwork-accessible. Therefore, when proper equipment (i.e., atransmitter) is located at the surface location 15, transmission of data1500 to appropriate hardware (e.g. remote processing center 102) via acommunication network 1700 is possible, whereas it was impossible in theunderground location 10 due to the absence of a network to transmit thedata 1500. The communication network 1700 may include internet network,cellular phone network, radio network, or any other network that allowsremote transmission of data.

At the underground location 10, there are vehicles, also known asequipment 1200. The vehicles or equipment 1200 comprise a vehicle or anequipment which repetitively (e.g. once an hour, once a day) returns tothe surface location 15, namely surface-returning equipment 1201. Theremainder of the vehicles or equipment 1200 comprises vehicles orequipment which stay at the underground location 10 always or duringlong periods (e.g., several days or longer), namelyprincipally-underground equipment 1202. FIG. 1 shows surface-returningequipment 1201 at the surface location 15 where it can communicateremotely, and principally-underground equipment 1202 at the undergroundlocation 10 where it is isolated from the communication network 1700.For example, the equipment 1200 comprises at least one of: a truck, haultruck, drilling mole, minecart, mine car, mantrip, conveyor, mechanicalshovel or excavator, or any other type of mining truck or drivenequipment that can go underground.

This way of doing things (having equipment staying mostly undergroundand vehicles which go up to the surface and down into the mine) iscurrently used in the mining industry. Therefore, the system 1000 fortransmitting data 1500 described herein is to be easily implemented inthe existing workflow of the mining industry.

Other applications can also be contemplated, for example in forestry.The most remote locations where tree-cutting vehicles and tree-loadingvehicles go can be network-inaccessible locations, while less remoteplaces where wood is stocked and transformed are network-accessiblelocation. The vehicles used in this industry can also be advantageouslymonitored with dedicated devices installed thereon. Even though there isno displacement from underground to the surface, these vehicles and howthey operate are analogous to the observed pattern in the miningindustry, with vehicles that stay during long periods innetwork-inaccessible locations and other vehicles that repeatedlytransit from network-inaccessible locations to network-accessiblelocations.

The system 1000 comprises a plurality of telemetry interface devices104. Each one of the vehicles or equipment 1200 for which data 1500 isto be communicated comprises one (or at least one) of the telemetryinterface devices 104. The telemetry interface devices 104 are forcommunicating with a remote processing center 102 via the communicationnetwork 1700. According to an embodiment, the telemetry interface device104 of the surface-returning equipment 1201 is for communicatingdirectly with a remote processing center 102, while the telemetryinterface devices 104 of the underground-only equipment 1202 are forcommunicating indirectly with a remote processing center 102 via thetelemetry interface device 104 of the surface-returning equipment 1201,as detailed further below in reference with FIGS. 3A-3F and FIG. 4.

Now referring to FIG. 2A, each telemetry interface device 104 isinstalled in the equipment 1200, in operative communication with avehicle data bus and/or sensor(s) and positioning device(s) already onboard the equipment 1200 (represented as element 114) and/or on-boardsystems such as a driller, a bin or an excavator arm, for example.

The telemetry interface device 104 comprises a memory device 106, aprocessing device 108 in communication with the memory device 106, and acommunication device 110.

The Input/Output (I/O) port 112 allows for connectivity of the telemetryinterface device 104 with at least one of a vehicle bus, an onboardsensor(s) and/or an optional positioning device; illustrated as element114 and/or other on-board systems. I/O port 112 is any data connectionport allowing uni- or bi-directional communication of data with thetelemetry interface device 104.

In accordance with the specifics of each vehicle, the onboard sensor(s)and/or positioning device(s), as illustrated by element 114, are eitherin operative communication with the telemetry interface device 104 viathe vehicle data bus, or directly in communication with the telemetryinterface device 104.

The telemetry interface device 104 also has an optional sensingdevice(s) 115 usable to replace or supplement onboard sensor(s) and/orpositioning device(s) for example. Such sensing device(s) 115 can be anysensing element such as an accelerometer for measuring the overallvehicle's acceleration (i.e., as a unit body) which is usable to monitorvehicle turns and breakings, or embarked tool (driller, shovel,mechanical arm, etc.) manipulation, to determine any aggressive drivingmanoeuvres, for example. The telemetry interface device 104 may also befitted with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (not shown) formonitoring the position of the equipment 1200 when it is at the surfacelocation 15 (however, receptivity of GPS signals and internet signalsmay differ).

Still in reference to FIG. 2A, the memory device 106 accumulatesmeasured equipment parameters repeatedly (e.g., periodically) and in asubstantially uninterrupted manner over a given period. Measuredequipment parameters refer to any vehicle parameter measurements beingmonitored from onboard the vehicle. Such measured equipment parametersis indicative of any variations occurring in the monitored equipmentparameters during such given monitoring period. The given period is overa substantially continuous time, generally during equipment operationtime.

The processing device 108 is implemented to receive sensor data from atleast one of the onboard sensor(s) and/or positioning device(s), as wellas from the vehicle bus 114 and the sensing device(s) 115, during thegiven period. Once received such sensor data is recorded by theprocessing device 108 as measured equipment parameters, on the memorydevice 106. The recording can take place during the given period, assoon as the sensor data is being sensed and received. The measuredequipment parameters are recorded at a sampling frequency (also referredto herein as a rate) which allows taking measurements of aninstantaneous value from the recorded measured equipment parameters. Thedata is recorded onboard, on the memory device 106. As long as theequipment 1200 being monitored is isolated from the communicationnetwork 1700 and from other equipment, such data accumulate on thememory device 106.

The definition of an instantaneous value depends on a series of factorswhich are defined by the type of application in which the system isinvolved. Types of applications include for example Fleet Management,Durability Testing/Mission Profiling, and Prototype and EngineeringTesting. In a Fleet Management application, 10 to 10,000 vehicles wouldbe involved, 1 to 10 parameters are being monitored and the samplingrates vary from 0.1 to 1 samples/second. In a Durability Testing/MissionProfiling application, 10 to 100 vehicles would be involved, 1 to 100parameters are being monitored and the sampling rates vary from 1 to1,000 samples/second. In a Prototype and Engineering Testingapplication, 1 to 10 vehicles would be involved, 10 to 1,000 parametersare being monitored and the sampling rates vary from 100 to 1,000,000samples/second. Since data are sampled at a high rate and accumulate onthe memory device 106, the amount of data to be transmitted, whentransmission conditions are met, is very high and requires correspondinghardware. For example, ZigBee systems are insufficient to transmit sucha high amount of data, since they run on long-life batteries andtransmit only low data flows. The system 1000 uses a plurality oftelemetry interface devices 104 which run on the equipment's own sourceof energy (usually fuel which is burnt and converted to electricalpower). They are thus adapted to send high data flows without beingbothered by the corresponding high energy consumption.

Once the measured equipment parameters are recorded, and if thesurface-returning equipment 1201 is at the surface location 15, thecommunication device 110 transmits the recorded data 1500 via thecommunication network 1700 to the remote processing center 102, as shownin FIG. 1.

Now referring to FIG. 2B, the remote processing center 102 comprises aprocessor 116 with internal and/or external memory (not shown); adisplay device or any other user input/output (I/O) device 118 (e.g., aprinter port); and database(s) 122. The communication device 120 ensuresreception of the measured equipment parameters transmitted from thetelemetry interface device 104. In an embodiment such as the oneillustrated, the transmission is wireless. The remote processing center102 and the telemetry interface device 104 can communicate with eachother over a network such as a cellular phone network or a local 900 MHzcommunication, for example, installed at select network-accessiblelocations.

The processor 116 is implemented using instructions stored in itsinternal and/or external memory 117. Coded instructions permit theprocessor 116 to receive the measured equipment parameters from thetelemetry interface device 104. Once the data 1500 is received, theprocessor 116 identifies driving manoeuvres/criteria from the measuredequipment parameters; the driving manoeuvres identified thus occurredduring the given period over which the measured equipment parameters wasaccumulated. When the data can be analysed in real-time during itsaccumulation on board the vehicle, then the driving manoeuvres areactually occurring as they are being identified and later evaluated.

According to an embodiment, the identification of the drivingmanoeuvres/criteria is performed by analysing variations in the measuredequipment parameters pertaining to equipment parameters for example.Each one of the driving manoeuvres is characterized by a quantitativevalue, while at least one of the driving manoeuvres identified ischaracterized by an instantaneous value as measured from the measuredequipment parameters.

Non-exhaustive examples of quantitative values associated with a drivingmanoeuvre include: a time elapsed, a distance traveled, and a vehiclespeed as taken from a speed of the wheels. Non-exhaustive examples ofinstantaneous values associated with a driving manoeuvre include: a fuelflow rate, a rotations/revolutions per minute (RPM) of the motor, aturbo pressure, an engine throttle value, and vehicle acceleration suchas that measured from an internal acceleration device and which isindicative of hard turns or braking as well as up-hill or down-hillroutes for example. Brutal manoeuvres of the mining equipment (e.g.,driller, excavating arm, mechanical shovel, wheels of the vehicle) canalso be monitored and recorded for an eventual evaluation at the remoteprocessing center 102 by comparing, for example, the measured valueswith acceptable ranges of values.

The state of the equipment, for example the tire pressure or structuralintegrity of an important equipment part, can also be monitored forpreventing failure of the equipment before the equipment is too degradedto be used. Indeed, avoiding equipment failure inside a mine is criticalsince space is limited. The mine's operation can be interrupted if alarge-size equipment fails at a critical location in the mine, therebyobstructing the passageway. Forecasting an eventual failure can helpreducing undesirable delays, and monitoring the state of the equipment,and/or the behavior of those who drive the equipment, can aid inestimating how fast equipment is being degraded.

The processor 116 is also implemented to evaluate at least one of thedriving manoeuvres/criteria identified as being satisfactory orunsatisfactory. A comparison of each one of the driving manoeuvresidentified with a threshold (or target) according to which asatisfactory driving becomes unsatisfactory is performed. The comparisoninvolves detecting either conformity or deviation from the threshold ora set of threshold values, or from an acceptable range.

Thresholds, criteria and behavior report generation are discussed inpatent publication U.S. 2011/0251752 A1, incorporated herein byreference.

The content of the remote processing center 102 (e.g. the drivingreports) is accessible by clients 140 through the internet 130 ordirectly (e.g., on a local network or any other form of directcommunication) through input and output communication device 120.

The remote processing center 102 comprises a computer system, or server,including a series of computer instructions fixed either on a tangiblemedium, such as a computer readable medium (e.g., a diskette, CD-ROM,ROM, or fixed disk) or transmittable to a computer system, via a modemor other interface device, such as a communications adapter connected toa network over a medium. The medium may be either a tangible medium(e.g., optical or electrical communications lines) or a mediumimplemented with wireless techniques (e.g., microwave, infrared or othertransmission techniques). The series of computer instructions embodiesall or part of the functionality previously described herein. Thoseskilled in the art should appreciate that such computer instructions canbe written in a number of programming languages for use with manycomputer architectures or operating systems. Furthermore, suchinstructions may be stored in any memory device, such as semiconductor,magnetic, optical or other memory devices, and may be transmitted usingany communications technology, such as optical, infrared, microwave, orother transmission technologies. It is expected that such a computerprogram product may be distributed as a removable medium withaccompanying printed or electronic documentation (e.g., shrink wrappedsoftware), preloaded with a computer system (e.g., on system ROM orfixed disk), or distributed from a server over the network (e.g., theInternet or World Wide Web). Of course, some embodiments of theinvention may be implemented as a combination of both software (e.g., acomputer program product) and hardware.

The system 1000 illustrated in FIG. 1 is adaptable for use with a fleetof vehicles, wherein each vehicle is installed with at least onetelemetry interface device 104, as mentioned above. In such anembodiment, the remote processing center 102 receives measured equipmentparameters, or data 1500, originating from all the vehicle telemetryinterface devices 104 of each one of the multiple vehicles and receivedvia the telemetry interface device 104 of the surface-returningequipment 1201.

The data 1500 is sub-divided in data packets 1501 corresponding to atelemetry interface device 104. Identification numbers are attributed toeach data packet 1501 to distinguish data 1500 originating from eachvehicle. The remote processing center 102 then proceeds to generatedriving profiles in association with corresponding vehicles and/ordrivers.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3F, there is shown how the system 1000 isadapted to transmit massive data 1500 originating from a plurality ofequipment 1200 located underground in a reliable way.

FIG. 3A shows a plurality of equipment 1200 located at the undergroundlocation 10. Each one of them accumulates data 1500 about their ownstate. By assuming that each one of them is far enough from theneighboring one of the plurality of equipment 1200, each one of them isisolated and cannot communicate any data.

After a significant amount of data is accumulated and recorded onboard,the data is grouped into a data packet 1501. A data packet 1501 isdefined as an amount of data formatted to be sent. This formatting canbe minimal, thus a data packet 1501, in its simplest form, can be anamount of data. The formatting can also be more complex: structured in apredefined format such as an electronic file or folder, encoded,encrypted, etc., with an identifier for the data packet 1501. Datapackets 1501 can be generated after a given time period, or after agiven data size is accumulated, or when communication between vehiclesis made possible, or under any other conditions that do not alter theeventual capability to monitor the equipment 1200. Therefore, whencommunication is made possible between vehicles, as described below,there may be only one data packet 1501 available for transmission, morethan one data packet 1501, or even no data packet 1501.

FIG. 3B shows a plurality of equipment 1200 located at the undergroundlocation 10, wherein two vehicles are close enough to be able to engagein a mutual communication. This mutual communication is illustrated withthe data exchange communication 1550.

When two vehicles approach each other, the telemetry interface device104 of one of them remotely detects the other one to engage in a mutualdata exchange communication 1550, which comprises sent and receivedsignals (e.g., electromagnetic or optical signals, audio/sound signals,visual signals and other types of suitable signals) between thetelemetry interface device 104 of each part of equipment 1200 usingtheir respective communication device 110.

According to an embodiment, the data exchange communication 1550comprises verifying which data packets 1501 the other telemetryinterface device 104 has in its memory device 106. Thereafter, eachtelemetry interface device 104 sends to the other telemetry interfacedevice 104 the data packets 1501 that it has in its record and that theother one does not have. The data exchange communication 1550 thereforeenables synchronization between the data packets 1501 stored on eachtelemetry interface device 104 of the equipment 1200 that met so thatthey have the same content (i.e., the same data 1500). Thissynchronization is facilitated by having the data packets 1501identified by their identifier, which helps determining which datapacket 1501 a telemetry interface device 104 has in its record and thatthe other one does not have.

The data exchange communication 1550 involves a local communicationbetween at least two telemetry interface devices 104 which are closeenough to allow this local communication to be provided. This localcommunication can be unidirectional, but is preferably mutual to allowsynchronization between telemetry interface devices 104.

FIG. 3C illustrates another data exchange communication 1550 withanother vehicle. It shows that synchronization of data 1500 stored onthe memory device 106 of the telemetry interface device 104 of variouspieces of equipment 1200 occurs in a chain. FIG. 3C further shows thatdata 1500 is now synchronized on the surface-returning equipment 1201.

FIG. 3D shows the surface-returning equipment 1201 having moved up tothe surface location 15. It illustrates the data exchange communication1550 between the surface-returning equipment 1201 and the remoteprocessing center 102 via the communication network 1700. Again, thedata exchange communication 1550 involves synchronization of data 1500.All data packets 1501 accumulated by the telemetry interface device 104of the surface-returning equipment 1201 are transmitted to the remoteprocessing center 102 for eventual evaluation and report generation,among others.

This process involves a reliability issue, since the most remoteequipment 1200 or simply the equipment staying at the undergroundlocation 10 does not possess information regarding the delivery of theirdata packets 1501.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a receipt signal 1551 toinform the equipment 1200 that their data packets 1501 were received bythe remote processing center 102.

FIG. 3D shows a receipt signal 1551 sent by the remote processing center102. The receipt signal 1551 comprises the identifier for each one ofthe data packets 1501 that were actually received by the remoteprocessing center 102. The receipt signal 1551 of FIG. 3D is shown asbeing a signal which is a part of the data exchange communication 1550.However, in another embodiment, it can be sent independently at thestart or after the end of the data exchange communication 1550.

FIG. 3E and FIG. 3F show data exchange communications 1550 betweenequipment 1200 that meet or get close to each other at the undergroundlocation 10. Again, as it was shown in FIG. 3C and FIG. 3B respectively,data exchange communications 1550 occur, thereby synchronizing thecontent of data packets 1501 recorded in each telemetry interface device104. This data exchange communications 1550 is enriched with the sendingof the receipt signal 1551. Upon receiving the receipt signal 1551, theequipment 1200 is informed that data packets 1501 which were transmittedearlier were actually received.

The data packets 1501 that were previously synchronized via the dataexchange communications 1550 were preferably kept in the records of thetelemetry interface devices 104, since no telemetry interface device 104has the information that they were received at the remote processingcenter. However, after having received the receipt signal 1551, thetelemetry interface device 104 is free to perform any operation on thedata packets 1501 identified by the receipt signal 1551 as having beenreceived.

According to an embodiment, upon receiving the receipt signal 1551, thetelemetry interface device 104 of the equipment 1200 deletes the datapackets 1501 (corresponding to those identified in the receipt signal1551) recorded on its memory device 106. This deletion enables asustainable management of the available memory on the memory device 106,since data packets 1501 accumulate with time.

According to another embodiment, the data packets are not deleted. Thisembodiment is possible if the memory device 106 has a very large memorythat does not require data to be erased during operation.

Each time two pieces of equipment 1200 get close to each othersynchronization keeps taking place and receipt signals 1551, if any, canbe sent. Therefore, each telemetry interface device 104 is updatedfrequently and keeps in its records all the data packets 1501 for whichreception was not confirmed. This frequent update ensures reliability ofthe system.

Furthermore, it will be noted that no infrastructure needs to beinstalled at the underground location. It avoids the high cost involvedwith installing a network in a mine, which is a temporary structure, andthe potential damage to the network infrastructure by the equipmentcirculating in the mine.

Although the system 1000 was described above with three telemetryinterface devices 104, it will be understood that a higher number oftelemetry interface devices 104, for use with a vehicle fleet, can beprovided. More specifically, at least two telemetry interface devices104 need to be provided.

For the purpose of clarity, there will be defined a first interfacedevice 104 a and a second interface device 104 b, each one beinginstalled on different pieces of equipment 1200. Each one of the firstinterface device 104 a and of the second interface device 104 bcomprises the parts of the telemetry interface device 104 describedabove. There can also be defined a third interface device (which canitself be defined as comprising at least one interface device) which actas an intermediary or intermediaries between the first interface device104 a and the second interface device 104 b.

Now referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a flowchart detailing amethod for transmitting the data to outside the underground location:

Step 400 comprises accumulating data from sensing devices 115 in amemory device 106 a and 106 b of the first interface device 104 a and ofthe second interface device 104 b, respectively.

Step 410 comprises establishing a data exchange communication betweenthe first interface device 104 a and the second interface device 104 b.

Step 420 comprises comparing the most recent receipt signals 1551received by the first interface device 104 a and the second interfacedevice 104 b. If one of the first interface device 104 a and of thesecond interface device 104 b comprises data packets 1501 identified ashaving been delivered, these data packets 1501 are deleted (or, if notdeleted, they are not considered anymore for future operations).

Step 430 comprises synchronizing data packets 1501 in order to have allnon-delivered data packets 1501 recorded on each one of the firstinterface device 104 a and of the second interface device 104 b. Thisstep may involve one or more intermediaries (i.e., a third interfacedevice or devices transmitting data in a chain), where each localcommunication between an interface device and the next one is performedas the one described between the first interface device 104 a and thesecond interface device 104 b.

Step 440: At any time during the cycle, if one of the first interfacedevice 104 a and the second interface device 104 b is in communicationwith the communication network 1700, it delivers to the remoteprocessing center its data packets 1501 as in step 430.

Step 450: In return, the first or second interface device (104 a or 104b) receives a receipt signal 1551 and deletes its own data packetsidentified therein, as in step 420. The data packets identified in thereceipt signal 1551 are therefore excluded from any futuresynchronization since they belong to the exclusion list defined in thereceipt signal 1551.

The method described in relation with a first and a second interfacedevice (104 a, 104 b) would also apply to a greater number of telemetryinterface devices 104.

Thereafter, each one of the first interface device 104 a and the secondinterface device 104 b has the same information as the other one. Data1500 is communicated as frequently as one of them goes outside to anetwork-accessible location, and a data packet 1501 is deleted from adevice only when it has received information (e.g., in the receiptsignal 1551) that the given data packet 1501 was delivered successfully.

According to another embodiment, telemetry interface devices 104 areidentified according to a hierarchy, and the data exchange communication1550 rather comprises a unidirectional synchronization of data packets1501 (instead of a bidirectional one as with all embodiments describedabove). The telemetry interface device 104 of the most remote equipment1200 knows that it belongs to equipment 1200 that will not meet anyother equipment 1200 and will never go to the surface location 15 (i.e.,it is at the bottom of the hierarchy). Therefore, this telemetryinterface device 104 will send its own data packets 1501 to its neighborbut will not receive any data packet from a device belonging to a higherstep in the hierarchy. Conversely, the surface-returning equipment 1201is at the top of the hierarchy. It does not need to send its datapackets 1501 to devices belonging to lower steps in the hierarchy, butwill gather the data packets 1501 originating therefrom. Thesurface-returning equipment 1201 will send its data packets 1501 only tothe remote processing center 102. Therefore, according to thisembodiment, data packets 1501 are sent upwardly in the hierarchy (orside-to-side if two vehicles are in the same category) and receiptsignals 1551 are sent downwardly in the hierarchy (or side-to-side iftwo vehicles are in the same category). This embodiment requires thattelemetry interface devices 104 have an identifier that identifies thecategory or position in the hierarchy of a vehicle.

While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in theart that modifications may be made without departing from thisdisclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variantscomprised in the scope of the disclosure.

1. A system for sending, via a communication network, data originatingfrom a monitoring of equipment in a network-inaccessible location, thesystem comprising: a first interface device to be operated in anetwork-inaccessible location and comprising: sensors for monitoring afirst equipment; a processor connected to the sensors for generating adata packet from the monitoring; and a local input/output (I/O) devicefor sending the data packet; and a second interface device, to bedisplaced from the network-inaccessible location to a network-accessiblelocation, comprising: a local I/O device for receiving the data packetfrom the first interface device; and a network-connected I/O device todeliver the data packet via the communication network.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the network-connected I/O device is further to receive,via the communication network, a receipt signal indicating the datapacket that was delivered.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the localI/O device of the second interface device is further for sending thereceipt signal for eventual reception by the first interface device. 4.The system of claim 3, wherein the second interface device furthercomprises sensors for monitoring a second equipment and a processorconnected to the sensors of the second interface device for generatinganother data packet from the monitoring.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the network-connected I/O device of the second interface deviceis further adapted to deliver the data packet and the other data packet,namely data packets, from both the first interface device and the secondinterface device and to receive the receipt signal indicating the datapackets that were delivered.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the firstinterface device and the second interface device are to be installed onfirst mining equipment and second mining equipment, respectively.
 7. Thesystem of claim 6, wherein the sensors of the first interface device andof the second interface device have connectors for connection to acommunication bus of the first mining equipment and of the second miningequipment, respectively.
 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising athird interface device to be operated in a network-inaccessible locationand comprising: a local I/O device for receiving at least one the datapacket from the first interface device or from the second interfacedevice upon establishing a local communication with the first interfacedevice or the second interface device, for storing the data packet, andfor retransmitting the at least one data packet to the other one of thefirst interface device or the second interface device upon establishinga local communication therewith.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein thethird interface device further comprises: sensors for monitoring a thirdequipment; a processor connected to the sensors for generating a datapacket from the monitoring; and the local I/O device being further forsending the data packet from the third interface device uponestablishing a local communication with the first interface device orthe second interface device.
 10. A system for sending, via acommunication network, data originating from a monitoring of equipmentin a network-inaccessible location, the system comprising: a firstinterface device for monitoring a first equipment and generating datapackets from the monitoring; and a second interface device formonitoring a second equipment and generating data packets from themonitoring, wherein: the first interface device and the second interfacedevice are adapted for mutual communication through which the datapackets from the first interface device and the data packets from thesecond interface device synchronize; at least one of the first interfacedevice and the second interface device is adapted: to be displaced to anetwork-accessible location; to deliver, via the communication network,the data packets; to receive, via the communication network, a receiptsignal indicating the data packets that were delivered; and the one ofthe first interface device and the second interface device whichreceived the receipt signal is adapted to communicate the receipt signalto the other one of the first interface device and the second interfacedevice.
 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least oneother interface device adapted for mutual communication with both thefirst interface device and the second interface device and adapted forsynchronizing the data packets of the first interface device with thedata packets of the second interface device.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein upon receiving the receipt signal from one of the firstinterface device and the second interface device, any interface devicesynchronizes its data packets with the one of the one of the firstinterface device and the second interface device except for the datapackets identified in the receipt signal.
 13. A method for transmittingdata originating from a network-inaccessible location to a processingcenter, the method comprising: monitoring equipment by a first interfacedevice in a network-inaccessible location; generating an identifiabledata packet from the monitoring; recording the identifiable data packeton the first interface device; providing a local communication betweenthe first interface device and a second interface device; sending theidentifiable data packet from the first interface device to the secondinterface device for recording thereon; displacing the second interfacedevice to a network-accessible location for sending the identifiabledata packet to a processing center.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinthe second interface device has at least another identifiable datapacket recorded thereon, further comprising, upon providing the localcommunication between the first interface device and the secondinterface device, sending the other identifiable data packet from thesecond interface device to the first interface device for recordingthereon, thereby synchronizing the identifiable data packets recorded onthe first interface device and the second interface device.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising, upon sending the identifiabledata packet to a processing center, receiving a receipt signal of anyidentifiable data packet received by the processing center.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising, upon providing the localcommunication between the first interface device and the secondinterface device, sending the receipt signal from the second interfacedevice to the first interface device.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein synchronizing the identifiable data packets comprises excludingfrom the synchronizing the identifiable data packets which areidentified in the receipt signal as received by at least one of thefirst interface device and the second interface device.
 18. The methodof claim 17, wherein providing a local communication between the firstinterface device and second interface device comprises: providing alocal communication between the first interface device and a thirdinterface device; sending the identifiable data packet from the firstinterface device to the third interface device; providing a localcommunication between the third interface device and the secondinterface device; and sending the identifiable data packet from thethird interface device to the second interface device.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the third interface device comprises one or moreinterface devices, wherein if the third interface device comprises twoor more interface devices, a local communication is provided at leasttemporarily between two of them.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinupon providing the local communication between the first interfacedevice and the third interface device, the third interface device sendsany identifiable data packet recorded thereon to the first interfacedevice; and wherein upon providing the local communication between thethird interface device and the second interface device, the secondinterface device sends any identifiable data packet recorded thereon tothe third interface device.